Judge Rules In Dispute Over SD Prosecutor Job

A judge has ruled that the man who won the state's attorney's race in South Dakota's Jerauld County last November is the rightful holder of the office, at least for now.

Dedrich Koch beat Casey Bridgman in the Republican primary last June and ran unopposed in November's general election. He was sworn into office Monday but Bridgman refused to step down, saying Koch had illegally run for office in Jerauld County and Buffalo County at the same time.

Bridgman sued and Koch filed a countersuit. Judge Jon Erickson ruled on Tuesday that Bridgman's term in office is over. However, he is allowing Bridgman to make written arguments on other issues, such as whether Koch must live in Jerauld County rather than Buffalo County.